john & jen

A two-hander musical by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald, john & jen weaves through the intertwined lives of siblings John and Jen Tracy, as they navigate through tumultuous history and a fraying family. Beginning in 1952, the young pair are bonded by elder Jen’s protectiveness against their abusive father. Despite their differences, John and Jen grow throughout the decades to bridge the distance between, especially when Jen heads to New York City, for college at the turn of the 1960’s. However, when John, influenced by their father, enlists in the military to fight in the Vietnam War, Jen is left grappling with feelings of abandonment and fear. 

Nearly three decades later, Jen, now an adult, struggles to raise her son, John, whose life echoes the lost innocence of her youth. Through her son’s struggles, Jen confronts the unresolved trauma of her past. As they wrestle between love and memory, mother and son wrestle with the question of how to honor those we love, while navigating the scars they leave behind. 

This rendition of john & jen by the Asian American Collective of Theatermakers features Sally Zheng as Jen and Sam Ahn as John. 

Performers

Jen: Sally Zheng

John: Sam Ahn

Production Team

Director: Alastair Rao

Producer: Sam Ahn

Producer: Annabelle Hee

Stage Manager: Hannah Deng

Musical Director: Hanson Qin

Supervisor: Nicole Lam

Assistant Director: Katya Agrawal

Assistant Director: Elizabeth Chun

Dramaturg: Connor Arakaki

Costume Designer: Alicia Shen

Sound Engineer: Dhruv Bhalla

Sound Designer: Dorothy Ha

Lighting Designer: Celia Chen

Props Designer: Robert Gao

Head Electrician: Mateo Balbarin

Graphic Designer: Emily Cai

Administered by the Council of Heads of College, the Creative and Performing Arts (CPA) grants support on-campus dramatic, musical, dance, video or film productions, literary publications, and exhibitions. These projects are supported by the Sudler Fund, the Welch Art Fund, and the Bates Fund. 

Yale student recipients of of this award receive a residency to realize their dream project in The Dome, with the support of Yale Schwarzman Center staff and resources. 

Select works from past recipients.